Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner have congratulated the winners of the Attitude Awards, which recognise the exceptional contributions made by disabled New Zealanders.

“This year the Ministry of Health sponsored the Making a Difference Award, which is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of disabled people,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Nicky Wagner Health Disability Issues
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"It gives me great pleasure to be here today to welcome you all to this, the first national forum on advance care planning.

I appreciate the opening words of Dr Barry Snow and Leigh Manson and found Kirstin’s story inspiring – a story that has set the scene for the next couple of days.

As many of you know, advance care planning helps people prepare for the future and provides an opportunity to have a say about treatment planning.

Peter Dunne Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says Southern and Counties Manukau DHBs will be the next DHBs to roll-out the bowel screening programme in 2017/18, after Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs.

“Around 3,000 Kiwis are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. Screening saves lives by detecting cancers at an early stage,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest health target results show that DHBs continue to perform well and remain close to achieving a number of targets.

“The health targets drive performance across the health system, ensuring that New Zealanders get better access to key health services,” says Dr Coleman.

“The latest health target results for July to September 2016 are a credit to our hardworking health workforce across the country.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the health system continues to respond well and is prepared to meet the expected rise in mental health and well-being issues following the recent earthquake in Kaikoura.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the people of Kaikoura and the wider Canterbury and Nelson Marlborough regions can access the health services that they need,” says Dr Coleman.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the health staff who are doing a great job responding to local health needs at a difficult time.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes new research which shows that the shorter stays in Emergency Departments (ED) target has contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in the number of patient deaths.

“The Government introduced a national target in 2009 to shorten the length of stay by patients in ED to help reduce overcrowding, improve health outcomes for patients, and improve acute hospital services,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says nearly 250,000 New Zealanders are now using a patient portal to access their health information.

“Patient portals enable patients to manage aspects of their own healthcare such as booking appointments, requesting repeat prescriptions and messaging clinical staff directly,” says Dr Coleman.

“It’s great to see the number of patient portal users significantly increase from around 175,000 in June 2016 to over 241,300 in September 2016 – a 38 per cent increase in just over three months.

Jonathan Coleman Health
Speech

"Kia ora koutou and good morning.

Thank you, Brendan for your introduction.

I do appreciate the invitation from Paramedics Australasia to open this year’s annual conference, not only as Associate Health Minister, but also as someone who has a close relationship with the ambulance and emergency services sector, through my primary portfolio responsibility as Minister of Internal Affairs.

Peter Dunne Health
Speech

Introduction

Thank you Dr Hein Stander for the introduction, it’s great to be here with you today. I’d like to acknowledge all the members of the ASMS.

General overview

Given recent international events, and that this is my final speech to ASMS before next year’s election, it’s appropriate to reflect on a few big picture observations.

We’ve seen some remarkable events and political turbulence around the world in recent months with Brexit in the UK and a divisive election in the US.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Legislation has been introduced to enable DHBs rather than local authorities to decide whether community water supplies are fluoridated, says Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

“While New Zealand’s oral health has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, we still have high rates of preventable tooth decay,” says Dr Coleman.

Peter Dunne Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that Auckland’s three DHBs will have a single chairperson to increase collaboration across the region to further improve the delivery of health services.

“Between them, Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHBs care for a population of almost 1.6 million, around a third of New Zealand’s population,” says Dr Coleman.

“The three DHBs have an operating budget of $4.2 billion for 2016/2017. Since 2009 the Government has increased the DHBs funding by around $1.2 billion.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the number of pill-free Green Prescription referrals have exceeded the target for the first quarter of 2016/17.

“Green Prescriptions provide people with advice and support to improve their nutrition and physical activity,” says Dr Coleman.

“Over 13,700 Green Prescription referrals were made in the first quarter of 2016/17, exceeding the target by nearly 100 referrals.

“It’s great to see that more New Zealanders are getting the extra support they need to get well and stay well.

Jonathan Coleman Health
Speech

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says progress continues to be made to reduce the wait time for a colonoscopy, as DHBs prepare for the roll-out of the national bowel screening programme.

“Delivering better cancer services is a priority. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in New Zealand,” says Dr Coleman.

“The latest data shows 3,850 patients received a colonoscopy in August 2016 – that’s an increase of 45 per cent compared to 2,649 colonoscopies carried out in July 2013.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there will be a greater focus on reducing rheumatic fever rates in Auckland.

“Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable disease. Children and young people from Maori and Pacific communities are the most vulnerable,” Dr Coleman says.

“Nationally we’re making good progress towards the Better Public Service target of reducing rheumatic fever rates by two-thirds by June 2017. But there’s still more work to be done, particularly in the greater Auckland region.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says that from next year babies will be tested for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) at birth.

“SCID is a group of rare diseases caused by genetic defects that prevent normal development of cells essential for immunity,” says Dr Coleman.

“The number of babies born with SCID is difficult to quantify as children often die before diagnosis. Most babies with SCID appear healthy at birth and aren’t diagnosed until six to nine months of age. If untreated, it can be fatal within the first year of life.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is encouraging Pacific students interested in any aspects of health studies to apply for the 2017 Pacific Health Scholarships.

“The scholarships are open to Pacific students committed to improving Pacific health across a range of disciplines. It is not just medicine and nursing. I want to see more Pacific students qualifying in related health specialties such as physical science, nutrition, dental hygiene, physiotherapy, midwifery or psychology for example,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has congratulated this year’s Clinicians Challenge winners for their innovative IT solutions to improve healthcare.

‘It’s great to see clinicians continuing to push the boundaries of digital healthcare through innovative thinking,” says Dr Coleman.

“Winning this year’s Clinicians Challenge is a significant achievement given the quality of entries received.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the passing of legislation which enables a wider range of appropriate health practitioners to undertake certain functions currently restricted to medical practitioners.

“This legislation will help to ensure that we can make the best use of the skills of our health workforce,” says Dr Coleman.

“Many health practitioners will now be able to perform tasks that were previously the sole domain of medical practitioners. As a result, more patients will be able to receive more timely convenient care closer to home.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the national telehealth service has helped around 425,000 New Zealanders since its launch one year ago.

Dr Coleman today visited the Auckland telehealth service which offers health advice and support to New Zealanders via phone, text and online.

“The integration of telehealth services on one platform delivered by one provider means that Kiwis who makes contact - no matter what phoneline or channel they use – receive the appropriate help they need,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the National Depression Initiative (NDI) has continued to evolve and expand since its launch a decade ago.

“Over the last ten years the NDI has had an increasingly important role in utilising technology to ensure people have access to the help and support they need, at a place and time convenient to them,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley say young people will be recruited to help raise awareness of rheumatic fever amongst their peers.

“Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable disease. Children and young people from Maori and Pacific communities are the most vulnerable,” Dr Coleman says.

“To further help raise awareness about the disease we’re going to recruit and train around 100 young people, mainly Maori and Pacific aged between 11 and 19 years, to talk about how to prevent rheumatic fever.

Jonathan Coleman Anne Tolley Health Youth
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Patient Safety Week starts today and coincides with the release of a new report showing patient harm reduction and cost savings have been achieved through improved health services.

Running until 5 November, Patient Safety Week 2016 encourages open communication between health professionals and consumers. It is promoted by many district health boards and other health providers and supported by the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) and the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Peter Dunne Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today met with providers of the second tranche of Mobility Action Teams at a workshop in Wellington.

“Musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis can have a significant impact on people’s health and quality of life. The total cost of people living with arthritis in New Zealand was estimated at $3.2 billion in 2010,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the roll-out of the new national enrolment service in general practices across the country is on target.

“To date 230 practices have gone live with the national enrolment service which provides faster, more accurate information on patient enrolment and identity,” says Dr Coleman.

“Feedback from practices using the service shows the system is easy to use and is making a positive difference in the day to day management of patients.

Jonathan Coleman Health